The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Electricity (OE) today (Dec 18) announced the reopening of the Energy Storage Innovations Prize Round 2. This one-phase competition is a call for new, innovative, and promising energy storage solutions to address niche markets and to grow a community of energy storage innovators. The Energy Storage Innovations Prize offers a total prize pool of $300,000 in cash prizes. Applications are due by March 13, 2026.
DOE is committed to investing in innovations that deliver benefits to the American public and lead to commercialization of technologies and products that foster affordable, reliable and secure access to energy. Round 2 builds on the success of the first Energy Storage Innovations Prize. Round 2 focuses on less conventional use cases (e.g., remote communities, extreme operating conditions) and innovative (less mature) energy storage technology solutions, across all duration scales, to advance the market landscape. Individuals, academia, non-federal government entities, small businesses, start-ups, entrepreneurs, and other inventors in the U.S. working on nascent or emerging energy storage innovations that address less conventional use cases are invited to solve this challenge and compete for the prize.
Up to five Storage Innovations Champions will receive a $50,000 cash prize each and up to five additional Storage Innovations Finalists will receive a $10,000 cash prize each.
The Energy Storage Innovations Prize Round 2 additional submission period closes on March 13, 2026. Learn more about this competition, including key dates, updates to the rules, and submission details on HeroX, the official prize platform.
The American-Made program is your fast track to energy innovation. Powered by the U.S. Department of Energy and administered by the National Laboratory of the Rockies, American-Made transforms innovative ideas into real energy solutions through prizes, collegiate competitions, technical assistance vouchers, and opportunities to work with a network of experts.
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